Palo Alto Impacts Significance Below is a list of potential High Speed Rail (HSR) impacts on Palo Alto. It is important residents understand these potential impacts so they can better communicate their views regarding HSR to the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). Land Acquisition Land acquisition impacts on Palo Alto are not yet known. However, it appears based on available information there will be some degree of necessary land acquisitions if HSR is brought through Palo Alto using the existing Caltrain corridor. These land acquisitions would most likely be a combination of temporary and permanent acquisitions and would vary depending on the eventual alignment chosen. The one possible exception to this would be if the CHSRA builds a deep tunnel through Palo Alto in which case land acquisitions may be limited or non-existent.

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If the volume of traffic in Palo Alto were to stay the same there should be a reduction in traffic congestion following the completion of HSR.  Although it is expected there would be negative impacts on traffic as a result of HSR construction, the requirement that all HSR crossings be grade separated would result in the elimination of crossing-gates at four addition Palo Alto track crossings. 

Transportation Accessibility

Currently, three stops, with an option for a fourth, are planned for construction along the Peninsula including San Francisco, Millbrae, Redwood City (tentative option), and San Jose.  From any of these four stops riders would be able to reach Los Angeles in less than three hours.  In October 2010, the Palo Alto City Council voted against further consideration of a Palo Alto HSR station.  Palo Alto was previously one of three alternatives proposed by the CHSRA for a Mid-Peninsula station in the same pool as Redwood City and Mountain View.

Assuming the Caltrain corridor is used, and not the Highway 101 or Highway 280 corridor, tree removal is expected to occur as a result of any of the track alignment options with the possible exception of a deep tunnel.  The extent of the tree removal will vary based on the final alignment chosen.  However, the CHSRA has recognized El Palo Alto as a historic landmark and has agreed not to choose an alignment that would damage the tree.

Vibration

The amount of vibration HSR would cause in Palo Alto is not yet known.  However, it is an issue of concern.  In recent correspondence with the CHSRA the City of Palo Alto has requested this question be addressed in detail.  Any vibration impacts caused by HSR would have to be mitigated.

Visibility

The HSR visual impacts on Palo Alto will vary greatly depending on the vertical alignment ultimately selected.  If HSR is built in either a deep tunnel, open trench, or closed trench the visual impacts of HSR may be relatively minor.

If HSR is built at-grade (or at the same level as the current Caltrain tracks) there would be visual impacts on the Palo Alto landscape due to the over-head wires that would have to be installed as a part of the electrification process. 

If the aerial alignment option is selected the visual impacts of HSR would be considered significant as there would be an elevated structure, of varying height, running the length of the city.